Download MCA Review Packet Part 1: General Science Concepts

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MCA Review Packet
Part 1: General Science Concepts - A Crime Scene Investigation
You are the lead investigator in a double murder case that has gained national attention, and
you need to be very careful as you work on this case.
Here are the facts as you know them:
- The bodies of a man and a woman were discovered in a garage
- The location of the crime scene is at: 42°19′N / 83°02′W
- The bodies were discovered by a co-worker of the man after the man had missed
two days of work and didn’t answer his phone.
- Both bodies show evidence of blunt force trauma injuries.
- There are signs of a struggle as a hammer, a crowbar, a shovel, and a drill were
found scattered on the floor of the garage.
- The man’s car is missing, and the woman’s car is parked in front of the house.
Step A: What is a HYPOTHESIS?
You have to give a press conference. Write a few sentences giving your HYPOTHESIS as
to what happened.
Step B: Identifying variables: What is a CONTROLLED VARIABLE?
As you reconstruct this murder, which of the following variables is controlled?
(Circle the correct answer)
A. The Location (Garage)
B. The Possible Weapon
Step C: Testing for the murder weapon.
One of your forensic scientists reports back to you that his review of the bodies indicates
that the murder weapon has a density of roughly 2.75 gr/ cm3. Which of these is the most likely
murder weapon?
Hammer:
Crowbar:
Shovel:
Drill:
Mass= 450 gr
Mass= 1280 gr
Mass= 4100 gr
Mass= 3700 gr
Volume= 300 cm3
Volume= 465 cm3
Volume=1850 cm3
Volume=1100 cm3
Final Step: Your conclusion: Write a few (3-4) sentences explaining what happened. Name the city
in which the murder occurred, the weapon used, and a possible motive for the crime.
Part 2: Grade 6 Review
Periodic Table: Look at the Periodic Table located at: http://www.webelements.com/
1. What does the periodic table show?
2. Why are all the elements sorted by number?
3. All Elements are made of atoms. Draw a diagram of an atom, labeling all the particles?
Simple Machines:
1. Name the 6 simple machines found on THIS page.
( http://atlantis.coe.uh.edu/archive/science/science_lessons/scienceles1/finalhome.htm )
2. Play the ZOOM Rube Goldberg machine game and help them fix their devices.
Physical vs. Chemical Change:
1. What is the difference between a physical and chemical change?
(Answer the sample questions on the linked page as well)
2. Take the QUIA ‘change quiz’ and tell how many of the answers were physical change.
Part 3: Grade 7 Review
Plant & Animal Cells:
1. What is the difference between Plant and Animal cells?
2.
Look at this picture. 
Is this a plant or animal cell?
Give 3 reasons why.
Food Webs:
1. What is a ‘Food Web’?
2. Click on the interactive Food Web page and put together 2 of the 4 food web puzzles (Australian /
African / Antarctic / Marine) on the main page, and then try the first ‘whodunit mystery’.
Genetics:
1. What is Heredity? (Do an online search and put the answer in your own words)
2. Click on the Gee in Genome page. Play the “CopyCat” game, and then play “The Mighty Mutation
Maker”. (Type in your name and then select at least two of the mutations types on the left hand side of the screen to
see what happens)
Part 4: Grade 8 Review
Plate Tectonics:
1. Click “Play” on the Plate Tectonics animation. What was the large landmass 237 million years ago
called?
2.
Look at this diagram and explain what occurs on the edges of the plates as they move?
Solar System:
1. Look at the “Make a Solar System” tool. Create the asteroid belt first.
What 4 planets are found between the Sun and the Asteroid Belt?
What 4 planets are found past the Asteroid Belt?
2. Take the National Geographic Solar System Quiz. What is your final score?
Heat Transfer: Use this animation to answer questions 1 & 2
1. What are the 3 ways in which energy is transferred?
2. What are 3 examples of convection as a method of heat transfer?
3. Does energy move from ‘cold to warm or ‘warm to cold’?
4. In weather, is wind an example of conduction, convection, or radiation?
Part 5: Create a Crossword Puzzle
Use graph paper to create your own crossword puzzle. Your clues should NOT be exact definitions
of the words you have in your crossword.
1. Choose 30 of the 35 words below to fit in your crossword puzzle.
2. You may use an online crossword creator if you would like, but this is not required.
Crossword word bank: (35 words)
Variable
Atom
Ecosystem
Hypothesis
Chemical Change
Food Web
Conclusion
Physical Change
Gene
Data
Electron
DNA
Mass
Periodic Table
Natural Selection
Volume
Force
Plant Cell
Density
Simple Machine
Animal Cell
Mineral
Rock
Terrestrial Planet
Gas Giant
HR Diagram
Atmosphere
Cloud
Charles Darwin
Gregor Mendel
Copernicus
Alfred Wegener
Albert Einstein
Nikola Tesla
Rachel Carson